Question about dynamics

[chad thomas]

I was reading some literature on locomotives and there was something that implied that dynamic brakes are not always "notches", rather they are sometimes infinately variable. Is this true ? and if so what models are like that and what ones have notches ?
thanks in advance.

[csxengineer98]

what do you mean by notches first off... on the controll stand..they dynmaic brake controll handel is markings up to number 8..and at each number... it applyes more dynamic brake.... if you mean a 'notch" like a the throttle has...the dynmaic brake handle donst have a notch like that....the dymamic brake handle is basicly a big reostate...
csx engineer

[coborn35]

I thought that to apply dynamic brakes you put the throttle at 0 and then moved it backwards to desired position.

[chad thomas]

csxengineer,
That answers my question. I thought the dynamics were segmented into 8 notches like the throttle. I guess I was wrong.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

I thought that to apply dynamic brakes you put the throttle at 0 and then moved it backwards to desired position.

depends on what type of controll stand you have....but yes..basicly thats all you do.... but it dont have a notch that when you move it into it locks it into place...it is free moving...the throttle has the locks for each notch...
csx engineer

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

csxengineer,
That answers my question. I thought the dynamics were segmented into 8 notches like the throttle. I guess I was wrong.

it has numbers up to 8... but thier is no "notch" that will hold it in to a postion... its free moveing... each number up or down will give you more or less amps of brake force...
csx engineer

[zardoz]

The very first SD40-2's that the CNW received (6801-6815) had a selector handle on the control stand, instead of a seperate dynamic brake "throttle". The selector was a spring-loaded lever just above the throttle; push it forward and you've selected "power', push it back and you've selected "dynamic" (after having reduced the throttle to "idle". On these units, the "throttle' had two functions (power and dynamic), depending on the position of the selector lever.